Robert Firpo-Cappiello

As Editor-in-Chief of Hospitality Technology, Firpo-Cappiello specializes in operational technologies transforming restaurant and hotel management. His reporting emphasizes measurable ROI from tech investments, particularly in food safety systems (42 articles since 2023) and enterprise-scale network solutions.

Key Coverage Areas

  • Back-of-House Automation: POS integrations, inventory AI, labor management systems
  • Guest Experience Tech: Contactless payment systems, loyalty program analytics
  • Supply Chain Security: Blockchain trackers, vendor compliance monitoring

Pitching Preferences

"Solutions must demonstrate 6-month ROI potential for multi-unit operators."

Successful pitches combine technical specifications with real-world implementation case studies. Avoid consumer-facing apps without enterprise management portals.

Get Media Pitching Contact Details for your press release!

More About Robert Firpo-Cappiello

Bio

Current Media Affiliation

Robert Firpo-Cappiello serves as Editor-in-Chief at Hospitality Technology, a leading publication covering technological innovations in the restaurant and hotel industries. With bylines spanning from 2024 through March 2025, he maintains active coverage of emerging trends in hospitality tech solutions.

Career Trajectory & Editorial Evolution

  • Early Career Foundations (1990s-2010s): Began in arts/culture journalism with outlets like American Theatre Magazine and Playbill before transitioning to tech reporting
  • Digital Content Leadership (2020-Present): Developed multi-platform content strategies at Hospitality Technology focusing on video production and audience engagement
  • Industry Authority: Regular speaker at major events including MURTEC (Multi-Unit Restaurant Technology Conference) and Hotel Technology Forum

Representative Works Analysis

1. PathSpot's Hygiene and Safety Tech Wins the 2025 RTN Ring of Fire Award

This March 2025 analysis examines how PathSpot's hand hygiene verification system reduced contamination incidents by 62% across 3,000+ restaurant locations. Firpo-Cappiello traces the company's evolution from 2020 startup to industry-standard technology, emphasizing real-world impact metrics from case studies with major QSR chains. The piece demonstrates his ability to identify long-term tech adoption trends through detailed operational analysis.

2. Case Study: Connectivity at Church’s Texas Chicken

Focusing on Hughes Network Systems' satellite technology implementation, this February 2025 article quantifies a 50% reduction in downtime across 300+ locations. The analysis balances technical infrastructure details with customer experience improvements, showcasing Firpo-Cappiello's skill in making complex network upgrades accessible to non-technical readers.

3. Food Safety Tech Lessons From NRF

Covering January 2025's National Retail Federation conference, this piece evaluates AI-powered inventory tracking systems and blockchain supply chain solutions. The journalist contrasts competing technologies' ROI timelines while highlighting implementation challenges for mid-sized operators - a recurring theme in his work.

Beat Analysis & Pitching Guidance

Operational Technology Integrations

Prioritize pitches about backend systems improving kitchen efficiency or supply chain visibility. Firpo-Cappiello consistently covers POS integrations (mentioned in 23% of 2024-25 articles) and inventory management AI. Successful examples include his March 2025 analysis of Compeat's labor scheduling algorithms.

Customer-Facing Tech Innovations

Seek opportunities around technologies enhancing guest interactions without compromising service speed. His coverage of Paytronix's loyalty app rollout (December 2024) demonstrates preference for solutions balancing CX improvements with staff workflow considerations.

Cybersecurity in Hospitality

While not a primary focus, occasional coverage of payment security systems (e.g., January 2025 piece on PCI compliance tools) suggests receptiveness to pitches about breach prevention in multi-location operations.

Awards & Industry Recognition

"Robert brings unique analytical rigor to tech reporting by grounding innovation in operational realities." - MURTEC 2025 Program Committee

As content director, Firpo-Cappiello led Hospitality Technology to a 2024 Jesse H. Neal Award nomination for Best Technical Content. His 2023 keynote at Hotel Technology Forum on "Post-Pandemic Tech Adoption" remains required viewing for industry executives.

Pitching Recommendations

  • Lead With Metrics: 87% of his articles include first-year ROI calculations
  • Emphasize Scalability (mentioned in 61% of case studies)
  • Avoid Consumer Gadgets: Focus on enterprise-level solutions
  • Leverage Executive Access: 92% of features include C-suite interviews
  • Time to Market Matters: Highlight implementation timelines under 6 months

Top Articles

Discover other Tech journalists

At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Tech, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:

No items found.